Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-07-01
THE LOST DEED.
BY ISABEL HOLMES.

BY ISABEL HOLMES
'1t's mighty queer about that deed, y
Reuben Hill was saying to his wife, as
he wiped the perspiration from his face
with his red, polka-dottcd handkerchief.
Nathan was so methodical like about
his papers and everything. It wasn't
like him to mislay it. But have looked
through all the drawers of that old ma
hogany desk and among his other papers
fifty times, l guess. know he meant
the Red Brook Farm for Oscar, but il
that deed is never found suppose his
own boys will take it,"
Mrs. Hill was bending over the kitchen
stove with flushed face, for the day was
hot. The odor of fried ham filled the
air. She stood back and looked at Reu-
ben by the open window, with a medi-
tatiye air.
ut is queer about it." she echoed.
'It will be mean enough if Osc.r gets
cheated out of share in the property.
He worked faithfully for Nathan till he
was Of age, more faithfully than his own
boys, and Nathan thought so much OF
him, too"
And meant to do the square thing
by him." Reuben continued. "You
don't suppose Robert or Will had hand
in"
Reuben interrupted himself to look up,
as a strange shadow fell across the
square Of sunlight in the kitchen door.
A girl, stranger, carrying valisc, was
standing there Her comely face was
flushed, and she seemed somewhat over
come with the heat
Mrs. Hill looked at her with an en-
couraging smile. The girl stepped in
side the doorway in response to the
mute welcome.
Don't you want to hire a girl at low
wages through the hot weather." she
enquired abruptly.
"We do our own work." Mrs. Hill
responded. "Our own girls, Addie and
Lottie, are both at home this summer
Have you come far2 You look heated,
Won't you sit down where it IS cool and
rcstap
81 have walked from Kennebunk this
forenoon" said the girl. Il am pretty
tired"
She sat down in the Madras covered
chair by the open door. Her eyes
wandered around the kitchen as if she
recognized something familiar in the sur
roundiugs, although she was stranger.
you've come pretty long stretch, +"
Reuben volunteered, giving her quick,
shyewd glance. He was apt to be on
the lookout for strangers.
Mrs. Hill regarded her with the kind
mothcrlness she felt for her own girls.
you'll feel better after you have had
some dinner with us" she said.
"Just left place, s'pose," Reuben
commented.
Yes" said the girl. She spoke with
a slight Scotch accent. She seemed a
little embarrassed with the question, and
her eyes wandered through the door TO
the hired men coming up to dinner from
the hay field,
IL had a pretty good place, but ]
wanted change" she sail, bringing
her glance to bear upon R!ubcn's face
bashfully.
"A girl ought TO stick to good
place, he ventured.
She made no reply to this "fcelor, !"
but something like a smile fl te over
her face.
''Sort of odd, guess, ;" was Rauben's
thought.
Mrs. Hill removed the Sizzling"
spider from the hot stove, AMI taking up
the platter of brown slices of ham, she
said to the girl:
"Come in this way and take off your
hat"
The girl followed her into the cool
dining-room and gave the same peculiar
glance around. Mrs. Hill set the platter
on tho invitingly laid table and then
conducted the stranger into her own
bedroom adjoining, where the high
feather bed stood, covered with a patch
work quilt of pink and white ''basket
work"
Just lay your things on the bed and
como right out to dinner" Mrs. Hill
said. Here's little girl who wants a
place to work, she said to Lottie, who
just then came out of the buttery with
huge apple pie, which she placed on
the table.
"Well, there's enough work to be
done here, dear knows" Lottie returned
briskly, with friendly nod to the new
conner. There's sewing enough Il
keep Addie busy six months, and that
spinning-I don't believe you'll get
round to it before Christmas. 1t take;
us both all the time to potter
round with the household. do think
ours beats all the houses in tho neigh
borhood to pile up work. Yet we ar
always at it. late and early"
The hired men now came in and tlH
family gathered around the table osca
tall, rather good looking fellow, sn
directly opposite the girl. She was
looking around upon the assembled
faces with that strange look of half rec